During the week of Aug 26 – Sept 1, 2013, our Canadian Junior National Powerlifting team will be traveling to Texas to compete at the World Junior Powerlifting Championships lead by Head Coach Avi Silverberg. Qualifying on this team is seven of our Nation’s strongest men and women under the age of twenty-three. In order for our Canadian athletes to qualify for a World Championship they need to have won their weight class at Nationals; a feat in and of itself that deserves much admiration. However, once an athlete reaches the pinnacle of success within Canada, they seek to take their skills internationally to compete against the World’s best.

Our current Team Canada athletes come from diverse backgrounds with a wide-range of experiences. Already on the team we have previous World competitors and medalists, but also a host of first-time members looking to advance their powerlifting careers. As we draw closer to the World Junior Championships, I will profile each athlete individually in order to showcase our homegrown powerlifting heroes. It is important to recognize that these junior athletes are already role models and leaders within the Canadian powerlifting community.

COURTNEY DILL

Courtney Dill is our team’s youngest athlete, competing at 17 years old. However, she is certainly not young in terms of experience. Dill has climbed the ranks quickly; she is a two-time National Champion, breaking five National records in the process, and making the National team in 2012 where she competed at the World Championships in Poland. Dill’s best lifts are 147.5k/325lb squat, 65k/143lb bench press, and 162.5k358lb deadlift. From the communications I’ve had with her support staff over the last couple weeks, she is set to achieve some personal bests at World’s this year.

Dill is surrounded by a legacy of World Class lifters. She comes from a very successful PEI powerlifting club that trains out of Souris High School. This team alone has produced 14 Canadian Champions, seven Team Canada athletes, and 10 World Championship medals (two gold, six silver, and two bronze). Dill’s main objective heading into this year’s World Championships is to better all of her National records, as well as contend for a medal in the deadlift.

Dill had also reached success in her academic life by making the high school Honor Roll. Outside of school and lifting Dill owns horses and works as a trail guy. She also coaches children's soccer and volunteers at local community events.